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recommendations (see "Radiation Exposure Limits"). Under most circumstances, the surgical team's exposure should not be more than 10% of these limits (shown as the ALARA values in the table). A final note: Be wary when an
individual's badge always indicates zero radiation exposure. The person
assigned to wear that badge may not be doing so.
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Safeguard the room
C-arms should be used in rooms large enough so that staff members not
involved in the procedure can retreat to safe distances (typically beyond
6 feet from the radiation source). Keep doors closed during imaging procedures
so unprotected and unaware staff members don't wander in. Your local regula-
tions will dictate if the walls and doors of an OR used routinely for imaging
cases need to be leaded for added protection. If possible, hang electronic signs
in imaging rooms that indicate when the X-ray is activated — some C-arms have
a circuit that would activate the external light. OSM
Dr. Balter (sb 2455@columb ia.edu) is a clinical associate professor in the
department of radiology at Columbia University Medical Center in
New York, N.Y.
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